Denzil Keelor
Air Marshal Denzil Keelor PVSM, KC, AVSM, VrC (born 7 December 1933) is a retired air officer of the Indian Air Force and a hero of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965.[1] He had a younger brother, Trevor, who was also honoured for his service in the Indian Air Force. The brothers were both awarded the Vir Chakra for shooting down Pakistan Air Force Sabres.[1]
Air Marshal Denzil Joseph Keelor | |
|---|---|
| Born | 7 December 1933 Lucknow, British India |
| Allegiance |  |
| Service/ |  |
| Years of service | 1954 - 1991 |
| Rank |  |
| Service number | 4805 |
| Commands held | Maharajpur Air Force Station Tactics and Air Combat Development Establishment 4 Squadron |
| Battles/wars | Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 |
| Awards |     |
| Relations | Wing Commander Trevor Keelor (brother) |
Early Life
Keelor was born on 7 December 1933 to Elizabeth and Charles Keelor in Lucknow. He attended the La Martiniere Lucknow.
Military Career
Keelor was commissioned into the Indian Air Force on 6 November 1954. He scored a kill during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965.
Vir Chakra
Denzil Keelor's first award was the Vir Chakra in 1965. The citation for the Vir Chakra reads as follows:[2][3]
Gazette Notification: 133 Pres/65, 22-9-65
Operation: 1965 Riddle Date of Award: 19 Sep 1965
CITATION
SQUADRON LEADER DENZIL KEELOR
(4805) GD (P)On the 19th September 1965, Squadron Leader Denzil Keelor was providing fighter escort to Mystere aircraft during a strike mission in the operations against Pakistan. His section of four Gnat aircraft was engaged by four enemy Sabre jet aircraft and the battle was fought at a height of less than 2000 feet from the ground where enemy anti-aircraft guns were also active. Under his guidance, his sub-section leader shot down a Sabre jet aircraft. Thereafter Squadron Leader Keelor himself engaged another Sabre Jet and crippled it.
Throughout the operations Squadron Leader Denzil Keelor was a source of inspiration to his pilots and ground personnel. His courage and devotion to duty were in the best traditions of the Indian Air Force.
Keelor took command of the 4 Squadron in early January 1973. The squadron was based out of Tezpur Air Force Station. In 1977, he took over as the Commandant of the Tactics and Air Combat Development Establishment (TACDE), the premier training establishment of the Indian Air Force which trains the best fighter pilots in aerial combat.[4]
Kirti Chakra
The citation for the Kirti Chakra reads as follows:[5]
Date of Award: 27 Mar 1978
CITATION
GROUP CAPTAIN DENZIL KEELOR, VrC
(4805) FLYING (PILOT)On the 19th September 1965, Squadron Leader Denzil Keelor was providing fighter escort to Mystere aircraft during a strike mission in the operations against Pakistan. His section of four Gnat aircraft was engaged by four enemy Sabre jet aircraft and the battle was fought at a height of less than 2000 feet from the ground where enemy anti-aircraft guns were also active. Under his guidance, his sub-section leader shot down a Sabre jet aircraft. Thereafter Squadron Leader Keelor himself engaged another Sabre Jet and crippled it.
Throughout the operations Squadron Leader Denzil Keelor was a source of inspiration to his pilots and ground personnel. His courage and devotion to duty were in the best traditions of the Indian Air Force.
From 1980 to 1982, Keelor served as the Air attaché at the Embassy of India in Paris, France in the rank of Air Commodore. He later took over command of the Maharajpur Air Force Station as Air Officer Commanding. Keelor was awarded with the Ati Vishist Seva Medal on 26 January 1986 and the Param Vishist Seva Medal on 26 Jan 1989.[6]
He retired in 1991. Following his retirement he worked as the President of the YMCA for ten years. He was the chairman of Special Olympics Bharat.[7]
Awards and Decorations
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| Param Vishisht Seva Medal | Kirti Chakra | ||
| Ati Vishisht Seva Medal | Vir Chakra | Wound Medal | |
References
- Sabre Killers- Keelor Brothers Denzil Keelor at Mangalorean.com Archived 27 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine accessed June 2007
- "SQUADRON LEADER DENZIL KEELOR | Gallantry Awards". gallantryawards.gov.in.
- "Vir Chakra (VrC), Awardee: Air Mrshl Denzil Keelor, PVSM, KC, AVSM, VrC, VM @ TWDI". twdi.in.
- "Service Record for Air Marshal Denzil Joseph Keelor 4805 F(P) at Bharat Rakshak.com". Bharat Rakshak.
- "GROUP CAPTAIN DENZIL KEELOR VrC | Gallantry Awards". gallantryawards.gov.in.
- 'Sabre Killers – Keelor Brothers' from Old Martinians' UK Archived 27 August 2007 at the Wayback Machine accessed July 2007
- "Special Olympics Bharat" (PDF).